PHARMACY
Pharmacist
To be a successful Pharmacist you should...
have good ability in chemistry, physics, math, and biology, have excellent listening, oral, and written communication skills, have the ability to work with a wide variety of people, have the ability to follow written instructions, have the ability to make sound judgments, have keen interest in education of patients, have the ability to motivate patients to use drugs as prescribed, have the ability to see small differences in color.
What will my job be like?
Pharmacists are experts in the medicines used to treat or prevent disease and symptoms. They interpret and evaluate medication orders; compound, dispense and administer drugs; and provide information to physicians and others about the selection of the best drug products for specific problems. Pharmacists monitor a patient’s medications to avoid complications caused by the interactions and adverse effects of drugs, and they educate patients about medicines and help them make informed choices.
Specialties
- Oncology
- Nuclear Pharmacy
- Nutrition Support
- Pharmacotherapy
- Psychiatry
Where could I work?
Pharmacists work in community pharmacies, or as members of a team of health care professionals in a hospital, clinic, or nursing home. Most full-time salaried pharmacists work about 40 hours a week. Some, including most self-employed pharmacists, work more than 50 hours a week.
Other workplace settings:
- Health Maintenance Organizations
- Military
- Pharmaceutical and Medical Research Firms
- Public Health Departments
- Retail Drug Chains
Average Annual Salary
$136,030 per year
What is the future of this career?
Employment of pharmacists is projected to grow 5 percent from 2023 to 2033, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
About 14,200 openings for pharmacists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Type of Education/Training
The Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) Professional Program where students either enter a grad program, or as a combined undergrad plus grad program, spending two years as pre-pharmacy students before applying to the four-year professional program for a total of six years. Pre-pharmacy is not a major, but rather, the title given to the first two years of prerequisite coursework completed under the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Once accepted into the program, students must successfully complete the four-year professional program to earn a Pharm.D. degree. The Pharm.D. is not a graduate degree, but rather, a professional degree, such as those earned by attorneys [JD] or doctors [MD] and is the only degree which will allow the graduate to become a licensed, practicing pharmacist.
Where could I get the education/training?
- University of Saint Joseph
- University of Connecticut
Licensing/Certification
Licensure is required in the state of Connecticut. In addition to Connecticut Registered Nurse licensure, the APRN must be certified by a prescribed national organization; have 30 hours of pharmacology coursework; and have obtained a masters degree.
Please visit the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health website for more information.
More Information
American Pharmacists Association
2215 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20037
800-237-2742
